Top Review

"The best guide, by far, is David Buttery’s Waterloo Battlefield Guide, which not only leads the visitor around the locations of the campaign, but tells the story of those four momentous days. The book is an essential companion for anyone visiting the battlefields of the campaign." - Bernard Cornwell

'The best guide, by far, is David Buttery's Waterloo Battlefield Guide, an essential companion for anyone visiting the battlefield.' - Bernard Cornwell

The defeat of Napoleon's French army by the combined forces of Wellington and Blücher at Waterloo on 18 June 1815 was a turning point in world history. This was the climax of the Napoleonic Wars, and the outcome had a major influence on the shape of Europe for the next century and beyond. The battle was a milestone, and it cannot be properly understood without a detailed, on-the-ground study of the landscape in which it was fought – and that is the purpose of David Buttery's new battlefield guide.

In vivid detail, using eyewitness accounts and an intimate knowledge of the terrain, he reconstructs Waterloo and he takes the reader – and the visitor – across the battleground as it is today. He focuses on the pivotal episodes in the fighting – the day-long struggle for the chateau at Hougoumont, the massive French infantry assaults, repeated cavalry charges, the fall of La Haye Sainte, the violent clashes in the village of Plancenoit, the repulse of the Imperial Guard and rout of the French army.

This thoroughgoing, lucid, easy-to-follow guide will be a fascinating introduction for anyone who seeks to understand what happened on that momentous day, and it will be an essential companion for anyone who explores the battlefield in Belgium.

The book is an excellent look at the battlefield of Waterloo as it exists today. It can be a
stand-alone overview of the battle or used as a companion to more in-depth looks at the battle. It meets the purpose outlined by the author. Recommended.

The Napoleon Series - July 2013 - reviewed by Ron McGuigan

Waterloo is one battlefield I have still not visited though I do intend to and this guide will certainly be with me in the car. It helps you plan your trip before you go, to know what to look for and then to be a handy reference when you are there to explain what you are looking at.

Military Modelling - Robin Buckland

Highly recommended.

Clash of Steel

Christian Legros took up the challenge of rehabilitating Marshal Grouchy and finally gives us a painting full of personality.

Gloire and Empire

This guide is everything one expects from a leading historian of nineteenth-century British military history and the British Empire. The book is an enjoyable read of both the battle's progress and an informative description of where to go and what to see on the site... A detailed, on-the-ground study.

The Portsmouth Napoleonic Society

The battlefield continues to repay a visit, not least, of course, because the monuments that liberally spatter its landscape offer a wonderful means of studying how it has been remembered. To get full value out of such a visit, though, it is necessary to carry a good guidebook in one’s knapsack, and Buttery has provided us with just such a work. Handy, concise and lavishly illustrated with maps and photographs, his efforts are greatly to be applauded.

Charles Esdaile, British Journal of Military History

This is a timely release, larger and weightier than the battleground series. The pages are very well illustrated with contemporary sketches and paintings, complimented with a healthy array of colour and monochrome photographs. The narrative is equally comprehensive spanning the events of the campaign from strategic level right down to the tactical level at the bayonet point.
This is a comprehensive battlefield guide that will corner the market for the foreseeable future - recommended.

International Guild of Battlefield Guides

This thoroughgoing, lucid, easy-to-follow guide will be a fascinating introduction for anyone who seeks to understand what happened on that momentous day, and it will be an essential companion for anyone who explores the battlefield in Belgium.

Skirmish - Living History Magazine

The best guide, by far, is David Buttery’s Waterloo Battlefield Guide, an essential companion for anyone visiting the battlefield.

Bernard Cornwell

A good introduction to the campaign and battles of the Hundred Days for those not already familiar with the subject, combined with a practical guide to visiting the battlefields, that packs a great deal of information into one relatively small volume, makes 'Waterloo Battlefield Guide' a sound investment both for prospective visitors and also for anyone else seeking a concise, well-illustrated historical account of the campaign.

Miniature Wargames

“Good introduction to the various things to see on the battlefield and why they are important.”
“Maps in the book are simple, but easy to follow and more than serve their purpose”
“This book is the best on the subject of guiding a first or second time tourist around the battlefield and is highly recommended. It will stand the test of time and is somethimg you should add to your library, should you be planning on visiting Waterloo in the next few years.

The Napoleonic Historical Society Newsletter

Good introduction to the various things to see on the battlefield and why they are important.
Maps in the book are simple, but easy to follow and more than serve their purpose.
This book is the best on the subject of guiding a first or second time tourist around the battlefield and is highly recommended.

The Napoleonic Historical Society Newsletter, Todd Fisher

Whether as a guide or textbook, David Buttery's book is a valuable edition to Waterloo literature.

Leicestershire Life

An excellent reference for the hundreds of thousands of people who will be visiting the battlefield.

Leicester Mercury

This book is a real joy to read being packed with information.

The Bulletin

The author, David Buttery, has managed to pull off something many historians would baulk at. He has successfully combined historical background and a blow- by-blow account of the Waterloo Campaign with information about what survives to this day - buildings, topography, monuments - and where it may be seen by the enthusiast. He also advises about travel and accommodation. `Waterloo, a Battlefield Guide' is therefore part history and part guide book.

David Buttery writes clearly and lucidly about this complex campaign - Waterloo was not just about two armies facing each other across a field - making it intelligible to the ordinary reader; and he is not one of those conspiracy theorists, seeking to deceive us into thinking our accepted views are all wrong and his right. He always presents a balanced view and where there is controversy - Waterloo has its fair share - gives the different sides to the argument before suggesting what he thinks might have been the case. The maps, diagrams and photographs are very clear and add valuable support to the writing.

As we approach the bicentenary of this most famous of battles, I would recommend David Buttery's book to anyone who wants a better understanding of the event and who might be considering a visit to the campaign battlefields.

Amazon Reviewer

I've not completed this book but I have read it extensively in sections. Having been to Waterloo, 1983, I found it difficult to put all into logical perspective then. David Buttery's guide has lifted the fog and opened the action to me better that any of the other books/guides have done for me. I don't know when, or if, I'll return to Waterloo but this guide will accompany me if I do. I cannot wait to read it thoroughly.

Amazon Reviewer

As a working battlefield guide, living near Waterloo for 20 years, and visiting the battlefield almost daily, I was engaged and impressed by the depth of knowledge and extent of the research that has gone into this very useful volume. Some of the detail, especially concerning the less well known conflict at Wavre (Grouchy versus Thieleman) on June 18th were enlightening and surprising.

Alan Lindsey

David Buttery has produced a most excellent little battlefield guide. It is exceptionally well illustrated and has some quite excellent maps. In my opinion it's a steal at £19.99.

Chairman of Waterloo 200

An excellent publication. A fine example of the objective writing of history at its best. Buttery demonstrates great skill in his writing, producing a text that is written with no assumed knowledge, making it suitable for the novice, but also with sufficient detail and insights to reward the experienced Waterloo 'campaigner'. The detailed, descriptive and insightful text is far beyond what I expected in a guidebook. The maps are a real highlight. Each map is clear, colourful and sufficiently detailed to be of tremendous use. Authors and publishers note: these are the sort of maps that should accompany every history text! As this is primarily a reference book, I am pleased that the publishers opted for quality over a light-weight, paperback version. In summary, congratulations to Mr Buttery and the publishers for producing such a fine book. It's a great introduction for the novice reader, but even the experienced 'student' of Napoleonic history will find numerous gems of detail about which you were not aware or revel in the details that will studying the battle or planning a bicentennial game. This book is worth it alone for the photos of sections of the battlefields and points of interest and, of course, the fine maps!

Avon Napoleonic Fellowship

The 'Waterloo Battlefield Guide” by David Buttery is an extremely comprehensive and vivid reconstruction of the battle of Waterloo (one of Europe's most decisive and famous battles). For anyone interested in both the battle itself and especially touring the site, this book is an essential and entertaining read. The book is very well illustrated with detailed and yet clear mapping showing an intimate knowledge of the terrain. As a battlefield tour guide and non expert on the Napoleonic era, I cannot recommend this thoroughly articulate and enjoyable read enough, it provides an invaluable guide to people seeking to explore this famous battleground.

Guild of Battlefield Guides

About David Buttery

David Buttery has established a reputation as a leading historian of nineteenth-century British military history and the British Empire. He has made a particular study of the Napoleonic and Crimean Wars.

He has worked in newspapers and in an oral history archive and has published extensively in many of the leading military history periodicals including the Victorian Military Society's journal, The Leicestershire Chronicle and Military Illustrated. His most recent books are Wellington Against Massena: The Third Invasion of Portugal 1810-1811 and Messenger of Death: Captain Nolan and the Charge of the Light Brigade.